“She’s a wonderful woman. So much better than either of us,” my mother whispers, her voice tight with emotion, and Daniel takes a shuddering breath.
“You did well, my love.” Daniel drops his hand, and I frown.
My mom gives me a look softer than I’ve seen on her face in years. I watch as Daniel lifts my mom up into a bridal hold and cradles her like she’s a precious gift.
“Okay…” I nod, not sure what else to say. I follow them to the large tent that opens up to reveal a rather nice setup. There’s room to sit comfortably on the floor or even on the couches.
“How did you get all this stuff here…” I wonder out loud, and Nero turns to me with a curious look.
“Up until earlier today, you were still Human, and youstill talk out of turn frequently?” Nero’s female companion snaps, and I turn to stare her down, sick of her tongue already. She can’t be much older than I am, but she sure is angrier.
“Please leave, Sister. Your venom is directed at the wrong Wolves,” Nero tells her, and she storms out with one last glare and a loud huff.
I don’t bother commenting on the Alpha’s sister. If I had to guess, she’s just worried about her family. I can’t blame her for that.
“Sit, Delilah. Please,” Daniel says, as he takes a seat, with my mother firmly tucked against his chest.
“Uh… Can you explain… this…” I gesture to the two of them, and my mother manages to detangle herself from the man long enough to walk over to me.
“I know you think low of me. You have every right to hate me. I only wish I had told you the truth of things sooner. That was my mistake. I hope you can eventually forgive me.”
“What? I don’t hate you. What are you talking about?” My heart aches because, for a long time, my mother has been one of the only people on this earth that I loved. I shake my head at her, pulling her into a hug. “Mom, I love you more than anything.” She nods, shaking in my arms, and I push back to look down at her. “What truth? What mistake? Forgive you for what?” I ask.
“Please try to understand that I only kept it from you to keep you safe. If I had known you could shift, I never would have hidden you in Primal Moon Pack. Do you remember the night we fled the Human compound?” my mother asks, and I shrug.
“Vaguely. I remember you woke me in the middle of thenight, and we ran for what felt like days. You were there, watching us,” I say, gesturing to Daniel, who nods.
“I’m your father, Delilah. I couldn’t come to the pack with your mother and you, because Michael would never have respected our bond. Because I have Alpha blood, he likely would have tried to kill me, and we just wanted to keep you safe.” At his words, I scoff.
“You must not know what I’ve been through, then,” I say, and my mother sags.
“If we had stayed, you would have suffered a worse fate,” my mother defends, before looking up at me, meeting my eyes. “You were thought to be a Dormant Wolf, just as I am. When Dormant Wolves are born, we’re killed. I only survived because Daniel is the son of an Alpha, and his mother was the Alpha’s wife, a kind woman. She convinced him to let me live, but when he was challenged and killed by his Beta, they wanted me dead. I was already pregnant with you, so we fled, thinking we could hide with the Humans, but the new Alpha of my old pack found us. Spread the word of a Dormant Wolf hiding amongst Humans. So we fled here. To the most powerful Wolf pack, where I knew we could hide as Humans. I didn’t expect the Alpha to claim me as his Avowed though; that had not been a part of my plan. I had to endure six horrible years as his Avowed, and then eight additional years of his torment.”
“Fuck, Mom, I thought you loved him…” I choke, and she snarls, before spitting on the ground beside me.
“Never! I despised him, but he threatened to take you if I resisted him. I wasn’t going to allow you to fall into the same fate as me. I resisted him at first until he started having you beaten. He knew how to control me…”
“Oh, Mom.” I hug her again as if I can erase her pain and protect her from ever being harmed again. My chestcracks open wide and anger stronger than anything I’ve ever experienced seeps out. “He will never touch you again. No one will, or I’ll fucking destroy them,” I vow, my entire body shaking with fury.
“Shh, sweet girl” My mother's nickname for me washes over me, and some of my hatred and anger fade. She reaches up, stroking my hair, and I don’t bother hiding my tears from her. “Oh, Delilah. I’m so sorry,” she whispers, but I shake my head.
“No, I’m sorry, Mom. It was my fault you couldn’t fight him. You sacrificed yourself to protect me, and I promise, he will pay for that with his life.” The truth in my words fills the room, and when my mates growl, I know with my whole soul they’ll all fight to make my words a reality.
“You don’t have to-”
“I do. And I will. You won’t ever suffer another day for the rest of your life.” I look around the room, filled with men willing to fight for me. For my mother. Willing to fight for what’s right. Matteo and Dean were ready to risk everything when they thought I was still Human. Coal and Quil have been taking beatings to protect me for fourteen years.
“I would have come for you sooner, but if we had managed to get to you, it could have started a war we weren’t prepared for. Alpha Nero and I, along with Coal, we’re going to put an end to Michael’s reign of terror,” Daniel says, pride clear in his voice, and I just nod, still reeling from my mother's confession.
“Wow. That’s… wow,” is all I can muster for a moment, as I process his words. “Why didn’t you give her the mate mark? Unleash her Wolf like Coal did with me?” I ask, and the room goes quiet. I look up to see all eyes are on Coal. The man in question clears his throat and turns to me with pink cheeks. He had been standing back, watching us silently.
“Well, we didn’t know it could be done before. I learned you were a Dormant Wolf just before we came to the Academy because of your father. But… It's never been done before as far as we know. As your mother said, Dormants are killed upon discovery. Up until you, it was assumed that a Dormant Wolf would have the same reaction to a mate mark that a Human would have…” Coal explains, no longer meeting my eyes.
“What reaction would that be exactly?” I ask, narrowing my eyes and already knowing the answer, but wanting him to say it all the same.
“Death,” Quil answers for his best friend, and my mouth falls open, shocked, despite already knowing that would be the answer.
Delilah
